Illius augustus timmis



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I.l A. TIMMIS.

Patented 00h15, 1895.

S'I'AFPI APPARATUS FOR WORKING SINGLE 'LINE RAILWAYS.

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I. A. I'IIVIIVIIS STAII APPARATUS FOR WORKING SINGLE LINE RAILWAYS.

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STAII?l APPARATUS FOR WORKING SINGLE LINE RAILWAYS. A No. 547,820. Paftentd Oot. 15, 1895.

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UNtr-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLIUS AUGUSTUS TIMMIS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

STAFF APPARATUS FOR WORKFNG SINGLE-LINE RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,820, dated October 15, 1895. Application filed December l, 1893. Serial No. 492,503. (No model.) Patented in England January 1. 1894, No. 45.

Be it known that I, ILLIUs AUGUSTUS TIM- MIS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at No. 2 Great George Street, Westminster, London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Staff Apparatus for the Working of Single-Line Railways, of which the following is a specification.

Letters Patent for this invention have been obtained in England, No. 45, dated January 1, 1894.

The objects of my invention are to provide an efficient and economical method of working a single-line railway by a statt' system in conjunction, where required, with a bell telegraph or telephone system, and interlocking the staffinstruments themselves with the starting-signals, the whole apparatus to work with one line-wire only.

My apparatus consists of an instrument called a staft-instrument and is provided with stads, bars, or tablets. A statt is a permit or pass to allow a train to proceed from a station into a section or block ahead. At each end of a section to be worked on this system there is provided a statt-instrument connected by a wire called the line-wire,

both alike and each supplied with a suitable number of staffs, the numbers being decided by the character and quantity of the trafic. The staffs for each section or block and for each pair of staff-instruments should be made specially and unlike those belonging to any other section or pair of stainstruments. Each staff -instrument is provided with a plunger and gearing, by means of which acurrent of electricity may be sent along the linewire to the other statt-instrument at the end of the section, also a tapper for ringing the bell in the other instrument, also releasinggear and indicator, and also plunger locking and unlocking gear.

The traffic facilities allowed by this invention are that one or more than one (according to the number of staffs at the sending section) train or trains may proceed in the same direction; but until the last train has arrived and the whole of the staffs have been placed in the instrument at the end ot' the section no staff can be drawn from the other instrument allowing a train to proceed in the opposite di- A `details of the switch lo and lever j.

rection from this instrument. It is understood that the statt withdrawn from, say, section A need not necessarily proceed to B before B can send a train to A, because it may be replaced in the instrument, thereby freeing B.

In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried into effect, I will describe the drawings hereunto annexed, in which similar letters and figures refer to similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a staff-instrument. Figs. 2 and 3 show the details of the apparatus and the electrical connections. Fig. 4 is a statt. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged views of parts of my apparatus. Fig. 8 shows details of the interlocking-gear. Fig. 9 shows Fig. 10 shows a diagram of the connections of two stations A and B. Figs. 1l and 12 are side views ot' the devices for interlocking the staff instrument with the signal-operating lever. Fig. l5 shows detail views of parts ofthe said interlocking devices.

According to my invention I provide two instruments, both exactly alike, and I placel one at station A and one at station B, and I connect these two instruments with one linewire, thus forming a section A B. I provide batteries at each station giving two different potentials.

With reference to Figs. l, 2, and 3, b is an electric bell. c is a tapper or commmunication-key. d is a plunger which actuates the contacts c', d d', and c e. is an electromagnet which operates a switch j. k is a two-way polarized automatic switch. This consists of two coils of wire with a needle m swinging between. The needle rm works a two-way switch 3l L. The lock n is actuated by the electromagnetf. The operation of the lock n actuates an indicator p and switch q. The staff-releasing gear consists of,A a quadrant o. The lock n engages with a slot in the quadrant o and locks it. r is an elecric contact. The quadrant o is pivoted ato', and the spring S holds it in contact with the pin s. To the quadrant o is pivoted a catch-rod t, which causes a disk 3 (see Fig. 3) to revolve. The disk 3 consists of four parts, a large disk u, ratchet c, with which t engages, a groove w, around which a weighted cord passes, and

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the disk fr, these four parts being all cast together and are loose on the spindle a. (See Fig. 3.) Cast on the disk 3 is a lug y, which engages with a pin a. r1`his pin passes through the disk 2. The disk 2 is tixed to the spindle a. To a is fixed the dial-pointer b. The plunger d is locked by the revolution of the disk u. When the plunger ot is operated, it tirst ot' all breaks the contacts c' and makes the contacts d CZ and e e. The lugf, fixed to d, causes the disk 1 to revolve by means of the grooves g', cutin its periphery. (See Fig. 7.) The disk 1 has a groove and ratchet the same as disk 3, also a luge', whereby the dialneedle h may be operated. The disk 1 is loose on the spindle a. A spring takes the plunger d back to its normal position. The weights )V W W, attached to the disks 1, 2, and 3, eitect a similar purpose. A leverj (see Fig. 2) is connected to a switch k. (See Figs. 2 and 9.) An electromagnet g (see Fig. 5) operates a lever L', andthe connecting-rod m operates the escapement n and also asimilar escapement attached to disk 1. The said rod m operates simultaneously two escapements similar to n', so that the disks 1 and 3 are operated together. The quadrant w (see Figs. 2 and D) is used to prevent two stats being inserted at the same time. The switch k (see Fig. 9) is pivoted at S10, the leverj' being ixcd to the wood disk 7c. Fixed to 7a are two brass contact-pieces S8 and S9, which make contact with springs s2 s3 s6 S7. The quadrant w is fixed to le and revolves with it. 'With the leverj in its normal position the quadrant w' presses against the stop-pin su. NVhen a statt is replaced in an instrument, the ieverj is pressed down and the switch k revolves together with the quadrant w'. The contacts S2 and s3 are completed by means of ss, and the contacts sG and S7 are completed by means of s. The quadrant w' covers the stati-entrance hole, and so prevents two staiis being inserted at one operation. On the stati. passing from oit the lever j the quadrant w', together with the switch la and leverj', return to the normal position by means of a spring.

R in Fig. 11 is asignal-operating lever, and q' is a rod pivoted thereto and tothe pivoted bell-crank levert. Q is a vertical rod also pivoted to the said bell-crank lever and to one end of the lever u', which is pivoted inside the case of the instrument. Arode depends from the other end of the lever u', and is provided with a notch 113, which engages with a projection 114 on the plunger d and forms an auxiliary locking device. The rod q is provided with two notches r' and r2. A weighted lever o is pivoted in the case, and 112 is a rod pivoted to one end of it and rest ing on the lug 2", which projects from the disk 1, which is journaled on the shaft a. A vertical locking-rod 1J is pivoted to the other end of thetlevero and has a notch 110 at its lower end, which slides in the notch r of the rod g. Uis a Weighted lever pivoted in the case, and

U is a rod depending from one end oi' the said lever and entering the notch 115 of the disk a2, which is journaled on the shaft ct. A vertical locking-rod s is pivoted to the other end of the lever U. Thelowerend of the rod s slides in the notch r2 of the rod q and is provided with a notch 111.

The instruments are connected as shown in Fig. l0. When the plunger d at B is pushed in and held in by hand, a current flows from the positive pole 26 of the battery 101 through the Wire 100, contacts d', wires 5 and G, down the main wire h to the instrument at A. This current passes into the magnet t', energizes it, and raises the switch j into contact with the contact-piece 11. From the magneti at A this current passes through the wire 12, contacts c', wire 14, switch j, contact 11 and wire 15 through the coils 16 and 17 of the switch or magnet 7c, and thence to earth at 51 through the Wire 5l. The current through earth to the other instrument at B passes in at 18 through the Wire 18, contacts e', wires 21 and 22 to the negative pole 24 of the battery 101. In {iowing through the coils 16 and 17 of the switch or magnet 7n at A, this current; causes the needle m to deflect to the left, causing a current to flow from the positive pole 26 ot the battery 101 through the wires 27, 28, 20, and 30, needle m, contact 31, Wire 32, contact 33 to the switch q, which is in its lower position, the inagnetf not having been energized. From the switch q the current passes through the wire 35 into the magnetf, which it energizes, causing the lock n to be drawn out of the notch in the quadrant o and raising the switch q into contact with the contact 3S. From the magnetfthe current passes through the wire 39, contact r, Wires 41, 42, and 43 to the negative pole 24 of the battery 101. The switch q being now in contact with the con tact 38, a local current passes from the positive pole 26 through the wires 27, 2S, and 29 to the switch q and back to the negative pole, as hereinbefore described, through the mag netf, Wire 39, contact lr', and wires 41,42, and 43. This localcurrent keepsthe magnet fenn ergized, and thereby holds the lock n clear of the notch in the quadrant o and permits a staff to bewithdrawn from the instrument. When a statt is replaced in the instrument at B it depresses the lcverj' and operates the switch k. This permitsa current to fioW from the positive pole 26 of the battery 101 through the wires 100, 47, and 48, contacts S7 s6, and wire 50 to earth at 50'. The current passes through earth to the instrument at A, entering at 51 and tiowing reversely through the Wire 5l, coils 17 and 16 of magnet 7c, wire 15, contact 11, switch j, wire 14, contacts c', Wire 12 to magnet t', which is energized. From the magnet 'L' the current passes through wires h, 6, and 52, contacts sand s2, and through wires 54 and 22 to the negative pole 24 of the battery 101. The current also passes into the instrument at B, when a staff is replaced in the instrument at B, from earth at 51', through the wire 51, coils lIO 17 and 16 of magnetic, wire 15', contact 1]',1 switch j, wire 14, contacts c', and wire 12 to the magnet t', which it energizes, and returns to the negative pole 24 of the battery 101 by way of wires 6 and 52, contacts 33 and s2, and Wires 54 and 22. At A the current iiowing through the coils 17 and 16 of the magnet lc, caused by the replacement of a statt' in the instrument at B, as hereinbefore described, causes the needle m to deiect to the right and thereby permits a current to flow from the positive pole 26 of the battery 101 through the wires 27, 28, 29,and 30, the needle m, contact L, and wire 66 to the magnet g, which it energizes. From this magnet g the current iows through wires 68, 42, and 43 to the negative pole 24 of the battery 101. The

similar current at B, which iiows through the coils 17 and 16 of the magnet k, causes the magnet g at B to be simultaneously energized in a similar manner. The bell b at each instrument is operated by a separate battery 69, of low potential. When the signal-man at B wishes to ring the bell at A, he depresses his tapper c. A weak current then iiows from the battery 69 at B through the Wire 70, tapper c, contact 10', switch j, wire 14', contacts c', Wire 12', magnet c', line-wire 71., magneti at A, wire 12, contacts c', Wire 14, switch j, contact 10, (switch j not having been raised,) through right-hand part of tapper c and the bell b to earth. The current is enabled to pass into and energize the magnetzat A when the plunger d at B is pushed in, as hereinbefore described, because the switch j at A -is normally resting on the Contact 10, and the circuit through the magnet vl is completed through the Wire 12, contacts c', Wire 14, switch j, contact 10, and through the bell to earth. When the current passes into the magnet at A, it energizes it, and the switch j then leaves the contact 10 and bears against the contact 11 instantaneously and again completes the circuit through the wire 15 and the parts connected to it, as hereinbefore described. The current is enabled to pass from the contact 11 into the switch j at A when a staff is replaced in the instrument at B, because the magnet t' at A is in the circuit of a current, which enters the instrument at A from earth through the bell and passes to the magnet 'i through the contact 10, switch j, Wire 14, contacts c', and wire 12, causing the switch j to pass from the contact 10 to the contact 11 and establish the circuit through the magnet i, as hereinbefore described.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows.: Take the case of two stations A and B. There is one instrument at each station, both instruments being exactly alike, and they are connected together by means of one line-wire h. (See Fig. 10.) Suppose a train is at station A and wishes to proceed to station B. AThe signal-man at station A rings up station B by depressing the tapper c. This rings the bell b on Bs instrument.` B replies by depressing his own tapper c andy so rings the bell in As instrument. IE B is ready to receive a train from A and the starting-signal at B in the direction of A is at dangerf he presses in his plunger d as far as it will go and thereby causes a current to flow in the direction of the arrows from the main battery 101, of greater potential, along the line-wire h. This current passes through the magnet 'L' in As instrument and operates it and causes the switch j to act, which allows the current to pass to the two-Way polarized automatic switch lo. The needle mis deflected to the left and a current passes to magnet f, thereby actuating it and drawing out the lock nand freeing the statt-releasing gear-viz., quadrant 0. When the lock n is drawn out, the indicator'p shows this, and at the same time a local current from As main battery'is switched in by means of the switch q, which local current holds out 'n till the signal-man is at liberty to take out a staff. Astatt can only be placed in an instrument at one end of the slot and can only be taken out at the other end of the slot. (See Fig. 1.) The momenta statt is taken out the quadrant o is operated and the current is broken at rr' and the lock n drops onto the quadrant 0. A spring S brings the quadrant o back to its normal position, Where it is locked by n. When the quadrant o is operated by the action of taking out a statt, the catch-rod t causes the disk 3 to revolve, and by means of the ratchet u and spindle a. causes the pointer b to point to l on the dial e. (Refer to Fig. 1.) '[he same operation goes on for every succeeding statt" that may be taken out. The plunger d at A is locked by the revolution of the disk u and remains locked until the dial shows O or zero again.

The above description describes what takes place when a statt is taken out of an instrument. Thus it will be seen that when the signal-man at B plunges to A his own dial intimates the fact that one statt has been freed in As instrument. Bs plunger is not locked, so that on receiving intimation from A a second staff at A may be liberated by B again plunging; but it will have been seen that As plunger is locked and consequentlyA cannot plunge to B with the object of freeing a staff for a trainin the condicting direction.

The following operation takes place when a statt is replaced in an instrument: The statt being placed in the entrance hole at the righthand side of the instrument (see Fig. l) and passing down the slot depresses the leverj. This lever is connected to the switch la', (see Fig. 9,) which sends a reverse current to the switch in both instruments. This causes the needle fm. to deflect to the right, which closes the circuit to the magnet g. The magnet g by means of the lever L and connecting-rod m (see Fig. 5) operates the escapement n and also au escapement attached to the disk 1 and allows the disks 3 and 1, respectively, in either instrument to go back one. Thus if only one staff has been taken -out the dial-needle b goes back to zero.

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The interlocking with the signals is effected in the following manner: At each instrument the rodp is normally lowered, so that the rod q' may slide through its notch 110, the rod 112 resting on the lug t', as shown in Fig.11. The rod s at each instrument is normally raised, so that its end engages with the notch r2 of the rod q', thereby locking the signal-lever R, the rod U being in the notch in the disk fr, as shown at the right hand in Fig. 8. When the signal-man at B pushes in his plunger, he enables the signal-man at A to withdraw a stati.E from the instrument at A. When the signal-man at A takes a staff from his instrument, the act of withdrawing the staff releases his own starting-signal rod q', because the disk :n is revolved by the quadrant o, rod t, and the ratchet-wheel, thereby raising the rod U and lowering the locking-rod s at. A until the notch 111 is in line with the rod q', as shown in Fig. 12. This operation does not, however, release the signal-lever at B, and the said signal-lever remains locked until the staffs withdrawn from the instrument at A have been replaced in the instruments, either at B or at A, and until the signal-man at B has withdrawn a statt from his instrument. The movement ot' the signal-lever R at A by the signal-man in lowering his starting-signal locks the plunger at A through the medium of the rod q', beltcrank lever t', rod Q, and lever u', which move the notch 113 out of line with the projection 114 on the plunger. The signal-man at A must therefore place his signal to danger before he can push in his plunger and thereby permit a statt to be removed from the instrument at B. In pushing in theplunger at I3 the projection f turns the wheel g,so that when the staff is removed from the instrument at A the indicators l) of both instruments correspond. The partial revolu tion of the wheel g', which is a part of disk 1,

removes the projection t" from under the rod 112, and the weighted lever o raises the rod p', so that its lower end locks the rod q and the signal-lever R. The act of replacing a staff in the instrument at B unlocks the rod q', because the disk 1 is caused to revolve backward when the lever-j is depressed, the magnet g being energized and the escapement n operated to permit the counterweight to turn back the disk. The projection t" is beveled on one side, and thereby raises the rod 112 to its original position and lowers the notch 110 of the rod p into line with the rod q'.

What I claim is- 1. In a staff system for controlling traffic on a single line railroad, the combination, of two similarstaffinstruments, and a single line wire connecting the said instruments, each said instrument being provided with batteries of different potential, a bell, a plunger, an electricallycontrolled switch j, and mechanism for locking the staffs, all operatively connected with the line wire, the weak current when switched on at the one instrument operating to ring the bell of the other instrument without moving the switch j, and the strong eurrent operating to move the said switch and release the statt-locking mechanism of the other instrument when the said plunger of the one instrument is operated, substantially as set forth.

2. In a stati? system for controlling traffic on a single line railroad, the combination, of two similar staff instruments, and a line wire con- 3. In a staff system for controlling traffic on e a single line railroad, the combination, of two similar statt instruments, and aline wire connecting the said instruments, each instrument being provided with a plunger, electricallycontrolled plunger-locking mechanism, and a switch actuated upon inserting a statt into either instrument, and operating there upon to release the plunger of one instrument from its said locking-mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a staff system for controlling traffic on a single line railroad, the combination, of two similarstaft instruments, signal-operating devices at eachinstrument, and aline wire connecting the said instruments, each instrument being provided with a plunger, electricallycontrolled staff-locking mechanism, and mechanism normally locking its signal-operating devices, the statt-locking mechanism of the one instrument being only releasable by operating the plunger' of the other instrument, and the subsequent actuation of the said stafflocking mechanism upon the removal of a statt from the one instrument operating to release the signal-operating mechanism of the same instrument, substantially as set forth.

5. In a staff system for controlling traffic on a single line railroad, the combination, with a staff instrument provided with a plunger, and an auxiliary plunger-locking device, of signaloperating mechanism,and intermediate operating devices connecting the said signal-oper ating mechanism with the said plunger-locking device, whereby the plunger is locked when the signal is lowered and cannot be operated again until the signal is raised by its said operating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

6. In a stail system for controlling traflic on a single line railroad, the combination, of two similar staff instruments, and a line wire connecting the said instruments, each instrument being provided with a plunger, electrically- ICO IIO

controlled staff-locking mechanism, electrically-controlled plunger-locking mechanism, and electrically-controlled plunger-releasing mechanism, al1 operatively connected with the said line wire, the removal of a staff from the one instrument operating to lock lthe plunger of the same instrument and thereby preventing the removal of a sta from the other instrument, and the re-insertion of a staff into the one or the other instrument operating to Io unlock the plunger of one instrument, substantially as set forth.

ILLIUS AUGUSTUS TIMMIS. Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. CAUDY, FREDERICK J. DAUM. 

